TravelBluebird

That is what I normally do! Hoping the bed is not too hard..I’ve heard various reports on RC beads from way to soft to hard as a rock so I have NO idea what to expect!

You know, we did the 15 day TransAtlantic on Carnival Venezia this summer, and we ate EVERYTHING in sight. The new Italian specialty, the sushi, the Chef’s table, and had to try all the new Italian dishes in the MDR. But we didn’t gain weight! We do try to limit our meals to 2 a day (with a very small breakfast or snack). PLUS we are super active—lots of dancing, often 20,000+ steps a day on port days and mostly 15,000 steps a day while at sea. I’m a little worried about less dancing on this cruise with DH not with me, so I may have to be a little more careful. So it can be done! Although I have a 28 day South America//Antarctica cruise coming up on HAL and with the cold weather (not wanting to walk on track as much) I’m definitely worried about weight gain on that one!

Wow! I go way back too…my very first cruise in the 1990s was on a Radisson cruise to New Zealand! But I’ve spread out my cruising on many different lines, although my “go to” for the Caribbean has been Carnival. Yeah, I’m kinda hard to miss—short gal with the mop of red curly hair. 😂 See you on board!

I’m having my lunch right now and talking to y’all while I desperately wait for the next 2 days to pass by so I can leave for my cruise! This first photo below is a generic photo of Wonder of the Seas. This is so on Cruise Critic a weird photo doesn’t show up on the links to this LIVE! Blog—if you’ve ever done a LIVE! and ended up with a photo of your luggage as that first photo, you’ll know what I mean! This morning I woke up to two emails from Royal (see below)—the first one about pre-cruise reservations closing tonight. I’m not going to go look because I’m afraid I’ll do something flighty like book an excursion to swim with the pigs on CocoCay or book the CoCoCay Beach Club, even though that is, in my opinion, so overpriced. The second one was the DON”T ARRIVE BEFORE your pre-cruise Arrival time, plus other info on boarding. Everyone here says I don’t have to worry about it if I don’t arrive super early. I’m thinking of arriving at about noon (although I have a 1:30 check in time) because I want to have lunch at a Specialty restaurant with my UDP AND I desperately need to book my UDP dining reservations. Plus, I need to check out of my hotel earlier than that. If I end up waiting at the port, so be it; that’s on my head. Also in that e-mail was a link for special (mostly medical) stateroom requests. I find this very organized and helpful—I often need a Sharps Container for my Enbrel shots, and if I travel with my son, he uses a Cpap Machine. I’ve included a photo of those requests—also included are things like “open joining door”. baby crib, extra blanket. I wish they had extra pillows on there; with my RA I sleep like I’m in a pillow fort. Checked my Royal app; I answer health questions on the 30th, the day before we sail.

Oh my gosh—83 cruises on RCCL!! Did you start when you were a baby? Seriously, you should be doing my cruising video channel instead of me! Looking forward to meeting you on board as well; I’d love to talk to you about your RCCL history and experience!

Thank you so much! I’ve subscribed to your channel and I am going to enjoy all your Wonder videos after work today!! I think 150 Central is my TOP restaurant to book. In order of what I’m looking forward to on the specialty restaurants, for me (for dinner) it is 150 Central, Wonder, Chops, Izumi Sushi, Hooked .Mason Jar, Giovanni’s in that order. I’m definitely not a big breakfast person, the reason being that I’m kinda a 2 meal a day person, although on a cruise I’ll get something small to go with my morning espresso (I’m a BIG need a good espresso person in the morning though), then do a medium lunch with my big meal of the day dinner, and usually a late dinner as I’m a night owl.

I love Halifax! Been there twice; most recently also on the Venezia! Hope you had a great day there!

Thanks so much; this is so helpful for my upcoming Celebration cruise!

Prices vary greatly depending on pre-boarding sales. For my upcoming Wonder Cruise, I purchased the Refreshment package for $27.99 per day on sale; it is currently $31.99 and $36.99 to buy on board. The Alcoholic Beverage Package is currently $77.99 per day to purchase; last week it was BOGO 50% off, so it worked out to about 54.99 a day per person. On the ship it’s saying $98.00 per person per day.

These are great! 💕 I’m a total foodie; have the UDP and I’m looking forward to trying as much as I can. Definitely going to check out Mason Jar for brunch AND country band. Thanks for the breakfast recommendations…I like to usually get a quick breakfast, and I’m not a huge buffet fan. I will definitely check out your semi-live Blog! And you are right about the rain forecast; I’m clearly getting myself worked up over nothing on that (because of that tropical depression that looked like it was going to be an issue, but is not anymore.

This particular cruise is the October 1- October 8 Eastern Caribbean itinerary, with Perfect day at CocoCay, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Departs from Port Canaveral. I leave Saturday morning. I’m completely packed as of this morning, which is like a day or two early for me, but have lots of work this week so didn’t want packing hanging over my head. I’m all packed except for a light rain jacket and a super lightweight umbrella (from Japan) that I keep putting in and taking out of my suitcase. The weather forecast for the week keeps changing…looks like some rain while in Port Canaveral, but hopefully not after than (and especially not for my first visit to CocoCay!) I’m a medium packer—one medium case with spinner wheels I can check, and one carry on that can go on top of said spinner, and I can push it all along on my own. If I can’t carry it (wheel it?), I don’t take it. I have booked an Interior (since I have to pay for 2 people traveling solo, solo in a balcony seemed very expensive). I think I will REALLY miss having a balcony cabin, but we shall see. On the plus side, I did get a minor Royal Up to a Neighborhood View Interior, so I’ll have some natural light. Please let me know what you all are most interested in seeing on my LIVE Blog! Also, would LOVE to know “ do not miss” recommendations etc. for Wonder from all you experienced Royal cruisers!

Welcome to my LIVE! Blog of my trip on Wonder of the Seas! This is my 6th LIVE! Blog here on Cruise Critic, but my first for a Royal Caribbean Cruise. I’m Dee, and although I usually travel with my dear husband, this time I’m traveling solo. I love cruising! Starting cruising back in the 1990s, I’ve cruised on lines including Carnival, Norwegian, HAL, Regent Seven Seas, Celebrity, Radisson (that goes way back!) The Caledonian Sky, Viking River and Viking Ocean. The cruise line I’ve cruised the most with (by far!) Yep, Carnival. Love me some Carnival. I like the fun atmosphere, and you just can’t beat their casino offers. This cruise has a lot of “firsts”. First time on Royal Caribbean! First time cruising solo! First time in an interior cabin! So its going to be an interesting cruise for me, and I hope for you. For you Loyal to Royal folk, I hope it is fun to see a Royal ship through my new-to-Royal eyes. As for my blogging/review style? I’ll tell it like it is, but that said, I’ve never been on a bad cruise! I’m generally upbeat and I don’t let a few things that are not perfect ruin my good time. I have a cruising channel on YouTube, Cruising With Dee. You can completely enjoy this LIVE! without visiting my channel, but if you want to visit my channel, I won’t complain! I write my blog (prose) here with lots of photos, and the video goes on the channel. Link to my channel is always in my signature, and I’ll include links for any videos I upload during the trip. Thanks in advance for reading along and joining in! I enjoy doing my LIVES! here because Cruise Critic helped me get through the COVID cruising drought, and also through a broken ankle//emergency evacuation from a cruise ship, and for me overall this has been such a helpful and giving community. Ok, so here I go…on my way in a few short days for a trip on the World’s Largest Cruise Ship!

Sea views! Yep, that will be my spot!

I was on the Mardi Gras before and after the $8 charge, and I thought it was much easier to get Cucina and Chibang! reservations after the fee for the second meal.

Wonder has Mason Jar and Giovanni’s open for lunch first day for my cruise.

I am cruising that week also (leave Saturday for a Sunday cruise). Thanksgiving is always at my house with the whole family, and then we decorate for Christmas on Friday, so that might be a bit stressful—I’ll have to definitely be fully packed before Thanksgiving! Cruise fares seemed cheaper than normal that week. Air fares, however, were on the expensive side. I’m a little worried about crowds and a holiday airline meltdown, but I’m not letting that stop me.

I just did a video on many of these thing—The Key, Royal Up, Unlimited Dining Plan, Entertainment reservations (see below). Also, starting later this week, look for my LIVE! thread on my Wonder cruise. I’m new to Royal, but a veteran cruiser, so I’ll be seeing everything with fresh eyes!

Hearing this, I’m really looking forward to the Solarium on Wonder next week! Are there good ocean views from the Solarium?

What I’ve heard is that most people who “standby” for Royal Entertainment DO get to see the show, because of all the people that do book “in case” and don’t show up. I agree on the Unlimited Dining Package reservations; I’m going to have to wait till I board, then book EVERYTHING. Not going to risk at-the-moment-cravings. And its good to vent!—I kind f did the same thing in my first Royal Caribbean video. Doesn’t mean I won’t love the cruise!

And right there is the reason I don’t sail with Princess. I need a place to sit with my legs straight out when I’m in the cabin (I have RA). Greatly prefer a couch, but in a pinch 2 chairs will do as I can put my legs out on the second chair. Once chair is ridiculous. I think every other single line I cruise has a couch in the room, except for Viking River. I even have a couch in my Wonder interior next week.

Well, I’m a first-time Royal cruiser, and the early deadlines and reservations for entertainment did take me by surprise. That said, I was able to mostly get what I wanted for entertainment since I didn’t mind late show times. As for Carnival Comedy, there are no reservations for that..its all first come, first served. That wasn’t the “standby line” that you were seeing, that was just the line to get in. Usually for Carnival, if I get there at least 30 minutes before, I can get a seat. I noted that for Royal one of the things that was sold out weeks ago was the Adult Comedy show. I don’t mind, since I see so much comedy on Carnival, and I’m going to see the Aqua, Ice, Effectors and Tap shows on Wonder.

I love it how cruisers are all so different. I’m taking my first Royal cruise after years on Carnival on Sunday (Wonder) and I can’t WAIT to have CocaCola products—I don’t like Pepsi products at all! 😂. Excited for the FreeStyle machines as well.

That’s an interesting point. Airline and Hotel loyalty programs are year by year; that would not work for cruise lines, but what about must cruise on Carnival once every 5 years or you lose your status? That would thin out the elites a bit, and indeed would give people an incentive to keep “current” with Carnival.

It’s a fine line for the company to walk. Lots of the Delta frequent fliers (me included) are so upset with the changes that we are going to drop the co-branded Delta cards and also no longer have loyalty to Delta. That said, I think Carnival, going forward, will end up implementing a $$ measure to their programs (Delta has gone full $$ spent, miles don’t even count to achieve status). Why should I get the same 7 points for the expensive suite cruise I’m taking on Jubilee next year as for the discounted gambling cruise I’m taking on Celebration this year? Something to think about.

Tardis AND time-turner references? We could totally be friends! And your anecdote made me laugh out loud, which completely startled my cats.